You are about to enter a traboule, a typical Lyonnais secret passageway, allowing a direct and discret passage from one street to the next. Once used to ensure faster transport of cloth out of the rain, and later during World War II to hide Resistance fighters, traboules have distinctive architecture combining spiral staircases, turrets, Italian style galleries and courtyards. The courtyards are called "miraboules", referring to the name of the passageway. The one you are currently walking through is the Traboule of the Cour des Voraces, one of the most impressive in Croix Rousse, which has also been used to shoot several movies. Traoules are a true hallmark of the city of Lyon over 160 of them can be found here and 200 in the Vieux Lyon. Several of them are shut in order to preserve the tranquility of their inhabitants. However, some are open to public, much to the delight of visitors!